Fastener for wrist bands



Sept. 12, 1950 c. A. PAGE FASTENER FOR WRIST BANDS Filed March 27, 1947 INVENTOR [14616] f]. fa e ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1950 OFFICE LE rENE-s FOR TBA ID Ches'ter A. Page, Bay-Shore; my;

iifl i eali asshr ate a -s .ra

., t r t 1 .(Q'Ihis invention relates to an improvedband fastener and particularly to fastening means for aresiliently flexible severed strip. 1 v The invention is particularly useful in connection with metal bands for, wrist watches and will be illustrated in detail bydescriptionin connection with such use.

As compared to metal wrist bands heretofore known, 'I provide a simpler construction and the of different pleasing appearance. I fashion the parts of the fastening means from the strip metal itself. I require no buckle, rivet, loop, or other added accessories. 'I'fiiiakfe possible "a ,union of the two ends of thew'rist band which the ineeting'ends' lie flushtvi'th each other so as to give the appearance of general smoothness of sfir'face'simplicity' of construction, and attractiveness of appearance. "At the same time the details of constructionand the springine'ss' of the material selected iorthe 'bandjmake the closure positive and subjectito release'by simply overcoming, at the position of union of the ends, the outwardly directed springinessof the metal band, as by pressure with the thumb upon the union. g

The invention comprises the herein described article including a severed resiliently flexible strip, one end of which has-an" upstanding tab and a portion provided with a transverse slot located a short distance from' the actual end and the other end of which has a tongue of reduced width to slip through'the said slot and is provided with an opening ofsize and space to receive this upstanding tab when the tongue is engaged in the slot. In the preferredeinbodiment of the invention the tongue and alsothe portion provided with the slot are offset with respect to the rest of the band, suitably by about equal amounts, the offsets being in directions that are the same when the two ends are assembled. This direction is preferably toward the wrist of the wearer so that the straight portions of the two ends are flush when the tongue is inserted through the slot.

The invention will be further illustrated by description in connection with the attached drawing to which reference is made.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the band as used to hold a wrist watch and with the band in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembled ends of the wrist band.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with the wrist band in open position.

, Fig. 4 is an end view of, the assembly of Fig. 3, that is with the wrist band inopen position,

Fig. 51s a 'persp'ectiveyie'w of the exist: the

wrist band provided with tabs and slot.

Fig. dis a perspective viewof. the other end of the wrist band niizielythe nart'provmeaw tn tongue and openings to receive the tabs in the finished assembly T The 'views" in Figs. 1,3, and 4 are partly diagrammatic and"parts not'shown in detail are conven'ti'onal.. e 1" There is'shown a wrist watch 8 and wrist band indicated generallyat --9'. The wrist band is severed; The two ends thereohthat is, the parts which" are involved 'in -th'e opening and closing of the wrist band are illustrated in' detail in Figs. Sand 6. One-end is providedwith a slope In between the "band proper and the offset end portion ll thereof. This same portion is pro vided at" its ends, with anupstanding. tab and preferably with the spaced tabs M which are turned up from the side edges of.-the end of, the

ofi setpart. n v. I l 'I h e other end. 15 terminates in the tongue. I6 of reduced width as ,compared to the rest-of the band andjoined to the band bythe sloping portion 18. This same end is provided with an opening or openings, suchas the notches 20 in the side edges .of thelstrip. 7 V The band ispreferably ,preshaped to correspond roughly to the curvature of the wrist of the wearer but so that the two ends ll and li must be vflexed in the direction of the wrist of the wearer and against the natural resilience ogthe material of thebandior union of the. ends 0.1 v. I cl s n he. b d arcund t e w i h b nd is applied "in open position, the twde'nds brdught together and the tongue l6 inserted through slot l2, the slot being slightly oversize with respect to the cross sectional dimensions of tongue l6. Likewise the notches 20 which are slightly oversize with respect to the turned up tabs M on the other hand are spaced from each other by about the same distance as the tabs I4 and from the position of abutment of sloping portion l8 of the tongue with sloping portion Ill provided with a slot by a distance approximately equal to the spacing of tabs I 4 from the position of said abutment. In other words, tabs l4 and apertures 20 are spaced about equally from the slopingportions Ill and [B respectively.

The result is that the tabs register with the openings 20 and extend therethrough. The lapping of the portions II and I5 and the engagement of the tongue l6 within the slot l2 keep band are easily pulled apart. I

Tabs I4 extend at an angle from the edge of the end of part I I in the direction that is outward when the band is assembled on the wrist of the wearer. The angle made between the tabs and the general plane of part I I is suitably about a right angle although the tabs may be slightly curved and concave on the side towards the part H.

"Thexpart H'which carries the tabs is offset from the 'band' iri'direction' "opposite' that of the extensionof the tabs I4. Onthe other end the tongue I6 is'offset also towards' the wrist of the wearer when. the band is assembled, that isfin the'same'direction in the finished"assembly as'the part .II. The result is abutment of the sloping parts land. It when the tonguelfl is inserted through'the slot as shown'in Figs. 1 and 2."Preferablytheamount of offsetting of the one end provided withthe slot and the tongue on" the other end is. about equal so that the band forms a. flush joint at the meeting point'which is .atthe position of thefslot'indicated by reference. character I2 in 1 and 2. I 3 It will be observed that all of the elements involved in the fasteningare shaped from or formed in the strip material of which the band composed. No added accessory is required. Theresult is a mi'on that is practically as smooth as'the remainder of the band with the exception of the very slight protuberance of tabsM beyond the notches '26. and a line of union at the position i? and corresponding to.the position of the slot in the assembles of Figs. 1 and 2. ITheclosure rneans have" the appearance of lightness and simplicity which is very desirable. Furthermore. the smoothness of the exterior of the joined portionsprevents objectionable catching of the closure means 'on'clothing.

As the materialiof construction ofthe wrist band 9 there is used suitably spring. strip steel ofabout the resiliency and flexibility ordinarily found in clock springs. The material is cut-and shaped and provided with the cut outs forming the slot I2 and the notches 20 in conventional manner.

Other material of construction may be used including a plastic band of sufi'lcient resilience and stiffness to show outward spring pressure on the points It in the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2. An example of such plastic is a springy, rather stiff cellulose acetate strip. Phosphor-bronze strip may also be used.

While the article has been illustrated by description in connection with a wrist band, the article may befiused also. as a belt; bracelet or necklace. In such use all parts are conventional with the exception of the closure means such as illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, in which the band is otherwise a continuous strip of metal without the inclusionof watch 8. In place of a watch there may be inserted if desired any conventional type of ornament held in the band in the usual type of union,

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all. changes and modifications. of the .example oi the inventionherein chosen for .the purpose 'of illustration which do not. constitute departures from theps'pirit and scope of'the invention. I

What I'claim is: v

'A wrist band comprising a resiliently'flexible seyered strip of material, a'terminal on one end 'offthestrip, a tab upstandin at approximately ajr'ight angle from the'terminal and in direction away from the wrist when the band is in use; a second end portionv of the strip provided with an'opening of size to receive the tab; the sides oftheopening. conforming with the surface of thefstripat that point; a tongue extending from the said secondjend portion of the band, an off set portion of the terminal first'mentioned in the direction of the wrist from the adjacent por tion of the'strip, and a connecting part extend ing in sloping manner between'the said terminal and the said oifsetportion of the-strip and pro vided. with a slot-of width to receive the said tonguej'the band described automatically'lo'cking itself when the tongue is inserted through the said slot and the said tab caused to register Number .Name Date "54,675 Booth May. 15,1866 "156,262 =Terrell Oct; 27, 1874; 162,725 Weil -Apr. 27,1875

2,835,351 Taylor Mar. '24, 1936 

